Arrested for stealing, then biting Oak Park police officer

A 36-year-old Oak Park man bit a police officer after telling the officer he was HIV positive, police said.

Javier G. Flores, of the 400 block of South Maple Avenue, was arrested for stealing about $70 of clothing from Old Navy, 417 N. Harlem Ave., on Nov. 18. While Flores was in custody for the theft charge at the police station, he became agitated and aggressive, said Commander LaDon Reynolds.

Flores then bit the thumb of an officer, who was taken to West Suburban Hospital. Reynolds said Monday the officer was treated and released and has since gone back to work. Reynolds added that Flores would still get the felony charge even if there was no transmission of HIV to the officer. He was also charged with aggravated battery to a police officer and is being held without bond.

@Ann: Where do you get that from? Like sharing a needle, any puncture wound can (most likely WILL) contain blood, which can mix with the HIV-carrier's blood (let's say his gums are bleeding). Why do you think he bit the cop in the first place? And he's not the first. Horrible thing to do.

RN from Oak Park

Posted: December 2nd, 2011 12:13 AM

To Ann Fisher: They are well within the law and logical reasoning to make such a charge. A human bite that involves blood and any tissue trauma to the victim can in fact result in transmission of HIV. It's not common, but has occasionally happened. A quick search of the medical literature on this subject will reveal that it is possible.

Ann Fisher from Forest Park

Posted: December 1st, 2011 9:54 PM

How sad that this is still happening, 30 years into the HIV epidemic, and in the supposedly progressive and educated village of Oak Park. Let us be clear, unless the officer was having sex or exchanging needles with the alleged thief, there is no risk that he will get HIV. Thumb bites do not spread HIV. Never have. Never will. Stigma is alive and well in Oak Park. The police and whatever assistant state's attorney authorized this charge should be ashamed of themselves.

OP Guy

Posted: November 29th, 2011 10:16 PM

$70 worth of clothes from Old Navy? You'd think if someone was going to go to all the trouble of stealing clothes, they'd steal something with better tailoring and higher quality material, but I suppose he's not the sharpest tool in the box.